How to Turn Your Internship Into a Job: 19 Women on Exactly How They Did It

Internships aren't just for earning college credit and perfecting the art of juggling three cups of coffee as you race toward a conference room. With the right go-getter attitude, an internship can lead to a job you love—and we've got 19 former rock-star interns to prove it! Here, they reveal just what they did to get a job offer at the companies for which they interned.

1. Come from a place of yes. "I became a 'yes' woman, always saying yes to any assignment or project with a go-getter, problem solver attitude. Always say yes, unless, of course, it's something unsavory or illegal." —Dana, 232. Maintain professional relationships. "During law school, I interned at a legal assistance office. [After it ended], I kept in contact with the lead attorney. We would exchange emails and meet up at local bar association events. Making the effort to maintain that contact over email and in-person led to that attorney hiring me for extended contract work several years later. Because of my experience, I think it's very important to maintain the relationships you make even after you internship is over." —Alana, 33

3. Treat your internship like a job. "I viewed my internship as my full-time job and did not view myself as an intern. If there was a task or opportunity, I had a blazing desire to accept it and always complete it with [my company's] best interest in mind. I familiarized myself with the goals and ambitions of the company and did whatever I could to contribute to reaching those goals. My advice: Show up on time, dress to impress, have a great attitude, build mutually beneficial relationships, take your work seriously, and be significant in some small way." —Karissa, 22

4. Consider working at a start-up. "I started as the first editorial intern for [a publication] when it was an extremely early-stage startup. I think this was one of the moves that gave me a leg up in terms of getting a full-time offer—if you can establish yourself early at a small company as someone they couldn't imaging functioning without, there's basically no way they can't hire you!" —Erin, 24

5. Dress for the job you want. "I dressed for the internship like it was a real job—an attitude I recommend all interns adopt. Even though sweatpants and flip flops were totally acceptable in the office, I always put a little extra effort into what I wore and how I presented myself because I knew only got this one impression. It was a combination of my go-getter attitude, my confidence in my own work, and dressing for the job I wanted that ultimately landed me the job I wanted." —Olivia, 24

6. Take initiative. "I was not shy and was willing to take on any project—even the ones no one else wanted. Lesson: Not being shy pays off! I ended up working directly with clients, and loved that I could see my work impacting their businesses. I even took my first business trip before I graduated college! I've now been [here] for almost five years and have worked my way all the way up to being a partner in the firm." —Meredith, 26

7. Ask for more responsibilities. "When I found out my internship manager was going out of the country for three weeks, I jumped at the chance to add more hours to my internship. Two weeks in, they hired me. Don't be afraid to ask for and take on more responsibility." —Heather, 28

8. Demonstrate your unique skill sets. "I proved I was a valuable employee by showing my in-depth understanding of social media and communicating with millennials. Showing what skills you can uniquely bring to the table—skills that the company's existing employees may not have—can make a huge difference in whether or not you're asked to join the team. And I was." —Sara, 22

9. Be open to trying new things. "I have a gift for gab. My supervisor liked the spunky, well spoken, nice, and creative side of me. One day she suggested I use those skills to teach a class because they where short on staff. I reluctantly filled in—and got the job. Who knew I was being groomed to take on a new position! It is a lesson that being present, giving your best, meeting the need, and challenging yourself can get you a job." —Vannessa, 34

10. Pay attention to details. "[At the magazine where I interned], I usually had to transcribe really long celebrity interviews and I would spend so much time pausing and rewinding the recordings to make sure I got every word. My supervisor later told me she often checked to see how well interns transcribed and that people often skimped over things they didn't think were important, so she appreciated that I got everything down—even though I had to transcribe a ton of them in addition to my other duties. The point is, attention to detail really counts." —Faith, 25

11. Work hard to stand out from the crowd. "Right out of the gate, I hit the ground running, constantly seeking more real work. Simply getting coffee and scheduling meetings was never going to get me hired. I saw it as the ultimate challenge: You don't necessarily want to look at your fellow interns as competitors, but at the end of the day, that's exactly what they are. Not everyone was going to be hired, and I worked my ass off to make sure I was the one who was. And it worked." —Lyndsey, 29

12. Make your employer look good. "I made an extra effort to share stories and articles that related to our clients' industries—and this in turn helped my managers appear on-the-pulse of current trends. Make your employer look good, and they'll want to keep you. I've now been at this company for four years." —Patricia, 26

13. Ask questions that will help you learn. "Ask questions! I worked hard during my internship and treated it like a very long job interview. But it's important to keep in mind that asking questions are just as important as the work you do. My colleagues continually encouraged and challenged me to ask questions, to help me grow as a professional. In doing so, I learned to take initiative and take on new responsibilities that helped show my value as a potential employee. —Hannah, 26

14. Work outside your academic comfort zone. "One of the first projects I was given as an intern was a writing project. My boss said she appreciated that I was able to return a writing project that wasn't structured like a college essay—I paid attention to what was needed for the company. She told me many interns struggle to see a project as something to better the company, rather than a college project being turned in for a grade—and I believe this is what really set me apart, and could set you apart, from other interns." —Madeline, 24

15. State your case. "There are some simple fundamentals for getting hired like coming in on time, turning it great work, making yourself available to do the work nobody else wants to do, etc. But the biggest thing is telling everyone who listens that you want to work there with the reasons why it's a great fit. They won't hire you if they don't know you want to stay." —Chelsea, 22

16. Keep lines of communication open. "I wanted my bosses to know that I was capable of big-picture work, so I jumped into the company culture and I made sure I was in communication with my supervisors about the specific tasks I was working on. I strongly believe that communication is key when working to secure a full-time position after an internship. If your bosses don't know all that you're working on, how will they know your full potential?" —Colleen, 22

17. Be confident and self-aware. "Be confident and open-minded. I took an internship at age 25 and never looked back. Being self-aware as a young woman and knowing where you want to end up can get you anywhere." —Bianca, 29

18. Network with your colleagues. "As soon as I started my internship, I immediately took to integrating myself into the culture by setting up happy hours for the office and inviting others out to lunch. My willingness to make connections and build relationships to me being offered a full-time job and, a few short months later, a management position." —Rachel, 26

19. Make your boss' life easier. "During my internship, I sent a daily recap of industry news to my immediate team to help them stay up to date on current industry happenings. My team found it so helpful that they asked me to send it daily to all of our executives and directors. By month two of my internship, I was a regular part of our CEO's day. And shortly after, I was offered a full-time job. Take it upon yourself to make your higher-ups' days easier, and they'll really appreciate it." —Casie, 25